Paper fastener



April 6, 1965 P. M. KLEIN PAPER FASTENER Filed Feb. 18, 1963 INVENTOR. 732? TEHN/QEJN United States Patent 3,l7,.%3 Patented Apr; 6, 1965 disc 3,176,363 PAPER FASTENER Peter M. Klein, Ogdensburg, N.Y., assignor to Natser Corporation, doing business as Acco Frorlucts, gdens= burg, N.Y., a corporation of Nevada Filed Feb. 18, 1953, Ser. No. 259,013

8 Claims. (til. fil -153) This invention relates to improvements in devices for fastening and holding a stack of loose-leaf sheets together and/ or in a file folder.

More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in a fastener compressor of a type adapted to be associated with a pair of resiliently flexible spaced apart prongs that are extended through aligned holes in the stack of sheets and which are bent down over the compressor and secured in such bent down position to securely bind the stack of sheets together or in a file folder with which they may be associated. Specifically, the compressor is of a type that has spaced apart apertures through which the prongs are extended. Because various modes of installation and usage require various spacing between the pairs of prongs it is necessary, in order to adapt the compressor for use regardless of the prong spacing, that the apertures and the means provided to hold the prongs bent down he adjustable along the length or" the compressor into any required spaced apart positions within the physical limits of the compressor. To this end the prong retaining means and the prong receiving apertures are provided in separate elements that are slidably mounted on the body of the compressor for movement toward and away from each other longitudinally of the body.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a fastener compressor of the character referred to.

Another object of the invention is to provide an elongated compressor with prong receiving and latching means longitudinally adjustable therealong.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pronged fastener with a novel compressor having elements slidable therealong for receiving prongs having different center spacings and for securing said prongs bent down over the compressor.

Another object is to provide a serviceable fastener compressor which is not expensive to manufacture, is adjustable easily to accommodate prongs having different center spacing and which is very etficient in use and easy to use.

The structure and means by which the above noted and other advantages and objects of the invention are attained will be described in the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, showing a preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a stack of loose-leaf sheets, showing them secured together by the fastener of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the compressor and stack shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is transverse sectional View, on an enlarged scale, of the compresser, taken substantially along line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the latching elements shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of a modified form of compressor.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the element shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to the exemplary disclosure of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the fastener device comprises a compressor member 11 and a pair of spaced apart flexible prongs 12. The prongs are adapted to be threaded through aligned holes in a stack of sheets 13 and their projecting end portions are bent down inwardly towards one another and are locked in such bent down position by novel means embodied in the compressor member. Preferably, the prongs are fabricated of mono filament plastic material, such as lineal polyethylene so as to be resiliently flexible to permit them to be bent as required for latching and to spring back into its straight form after long periods of use. These prongs may be in the form of a single strip, as shown, or they may be separate one from the other and carried by a common base element such as for example, the flap of a cover folder, not shown. Of course, the prongs can be made of metal.

The compressor member 11 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, is comprised of an elongated body 14 of stiff shape retaining material, preferably metal, shaped in section in the form of a channel including a bottom wall 15 and a top wall 16. The top wall 16 is of less width than the bottom wall 15 and is spaced a short distance above said bottom wall. A pair of prong receiving and latching elements 17 are freely slidable in and along the channel shaped body 14 which preferably has its ends dimpled or crimped, as at 18, to prevent removal of the elements. If desired, holes 18a may be provided at the compressor ends to receive eyelets for securing the compressor to a file folder flap.

The elements 17 are alike and are made of stiff material, such as metal. As best shown in FIG. 4, each comprises a base wall 19 and a top wall 21 spaced therefrom and preferably formed by folding one margin of the material over upon itself. The walls 19, 21 are spaced apart a distance to permit the elements to be slidable in the channel shaped body 14 and the bottom wall 19 extends outwardly of the channel and is suitably provided in said projecting portion with one or more apertures 22, and is offset downwardly slightly as at 19a. The top wall has an overhanging tongue 23 formed on its free edge with a downwardly turned lip 24. This tongue is spaced to lie midway between the spaced apertures 22.

In use, the prongs 12. are extended through the holes in the stack of sheets 13. As is well understood, the spacing between the holes in the stack of sheets may vary. For example, in some instances the holes may be but 2% inches apart whereas in another instance they may be as much or greater than 8 /2 inches apart. The compressor member 11 is adapted for use regardless of the center spacing of the prongs. To accomplish this, the latch elements 17 are moved into positions along body 14 to locate an aperture of each in position to be threaded over the projecting end of a prong whereupon the end portions of the prongs are bent downwardly and are urged laterally beneath the related tongue 23. As the normal resiliency of the prongs tends to urge them into tight abutment with the under surface of the engaged tongue, the lip 24 on each tongue prevents the prongs from disengaging. Obviously, the prongs may be bent inwardly towards each other or outwardly away from each other depending upon which of the two apertures is threaded over the prongs. In order to release the fastener for the purpose of adding to or subtracting sheets from the stack of sheets, the bent over prong portions are initially depressed and then urged out from beneath tongues 23 whereupon they will assume their straight positions. Should the compressor be attached to a folder having fixed centers, the elements 17 may be moved into position and an eyelet, not shown, extended through one of the apertures 22 for securing it against sliding.

As an alternate construction, the compressor body 14a may have cross section similar to that shown in FIG. 5 and the element 37, best shown in FIG. 6, may be formed ment engageable. by the re do not desire to be restricted to the exact construction dei I 1 10 Having described my invention what I desire to secure 7 scribed.

by Letters Patent of the United States is: V n

1. A fastener comprising, 'in combination, a pair of;

-'resiliently flexible prongs adapted to .be extended through aligned holes in a stack of sheets, acompressor including latching means adapted to be seatedron said stack for securing the extended portions of said prongs in a bent down position, said compressor comprising an elongated channel shaped body, a pair of latching elernentsslidable along saidbody and projecting beyond one edge thereof, each of said elements being apertured'; in the portion which projects beyondsaid one edge to receive the extended end of a prong therethrough, the extended 'end portions of said prongs being adapted to be bent 25 spective prong for securing it down towards theostack, and means on each latching elein bent down position. V V

2. A fastener comprising a pair of spaced apart flexible prongs adapted to' be'threaded'upwardly through a stack of sheets and an elongated'compressor element ar- -r'anged overthe top of said stack ofsheets, 'said oompressor element comprisingin combination, ail-elongated body havingtop and bottom wallsya pair 'ofelements mounted between said walls and slidable along'said body,

said elements eachhaving a'wall portion extending becarried by said body and projecting beyond one longitudi- V 'nal edge of the body, said projecting portions being'apertured to receive the prongs threaded therethrough, said 7 elements being slidably adjustable along said body, said prongs being bent down against said elements, and a tongue oneach element offset from the aperture therein and beneath which the bent down prongs are engaged to hold-them inbe nt down position.

'4. In the loose-leaf binder recited in claim 3,'in' which there are two apertured elements on said body. 7

5. In the loose-leaf binder recited in claim 3, in which there are two apertures in each element.

6. Inthe loose-leaf binder recited in claim 3,in which the tongues have a downturned margin to resist displacement of the prong engaged therebeneath;

7. A paper fastener compressor comprising an'elongated member having a slotpon'one longitudinal edge thereof, element-s slidable in said member and projecting outwardly through "said slot and beyond the said edge of said member, said elements being apertured in their projectingportions and eachadapted to receive an associated prong therethrough, and means on each element adapted to hold-the related prong in a bentdown position.

8; A prong fastener compressor comprising an elongated body, and a pair of prong receiving and latching elements-slidable on said body; said'el'ements projecting beyond onelongitudinal edge of said body. and having prong receiving apertures in the area projecting beyond said body and each being longitudinally adjustable along substantially the entire length of said body to adapt the compressor for cooperative. association ;with prongs yond one edge of the body-and being apertured in said-3 portion to. receive'aprongextended therethrough, said prongsbeingadapted to be bent down over said apertured wall portion, and a tongue. on each element:and spaced f s from the aperture therein and engageable by the respective .prong for holding the prong bent." I

3. A fastener for bin'dingla plurality'of loose sheets in spaced apart various distances within the limits of adjustment of said elements. 7 f 7 References Cited fin the. file of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTS 434,625 1,985,583 Shipman Dec. 25,1934 3,026,876 7 Peynado Mar. 27, 1962 3,073,315 1 "'S chadeq' Jan. 15, 1963 3,980,562 Pott s et a1 Mar. 5, 1963 I FOREIG PATENTS r l 241,723 Great'Britain Oct. 29, 1925 

1. A FASTENER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A PAIR OF RESILIENTLY FLEXIBLE PRONGS ADAPTED TO BE EXTENDED THROUGH ALIGNED HOLES IN A STACK OF SHEETS, A COMPRESSOR INCLUDING LATCHING MEANS ADAPTED TO BE SEATED ON SAID STACK FOR SECURING THE EXTEND PORTIONS OF SAID PRONGS IN A BENT DOWN POSITION, SAID COMPRESSOR COMPRISING AN ELONGATED CHANNEL SHAPED BODY, A PAIR OF LATCHING ELEMENTS SLIDABLE ALONG SAID BODY AND PROJECTING BEYOND ONE EDGE THEREOF, EACH OF SAID ELEMENTS BEING APERTURED IN THE PORTION WHICH PROJECTS BEYOND SAID ONE EDGE TO RECEIVE THE EXTENDED END OF A PRONG THERETHROUGH, THE EXTENDED END PORTIONS OF SAID PRONGS BEING ADAPTED TO BE BENT DOWN TOWARDS THE STACK, AND MEANS ON EACH LATCHING ELEMENT ENGAGEABLE BY THE RESPECTIVE PRONG FOR SECURING IT IN THE BENT DOWN POSITION. 